The governing body of Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT ) has announced the re-appointment of Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin as president of the institute for a second 10-year term.
Chairman of AIT’s governing body, Paul Breen, said, “We need leaders in education who can communicate the transformational power of knowledge and who can inspire their team to deliver that vision. Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin is such a leader. Under his stewardship since 2000, AIT has forged successful partnerships with industry, research bodies, higher education providers and community groups in Ireland and overseas. The diversity of AIT’s growing student population is a tribute to the inclusive vision of third level education which he espouses.
“The governing body is confident that under the presidency of Professor Ó Catháin, AIT will meet the ambitious targets set out in its strategic plan and will continue to play a transformational role in third and fourth level education in the Midlands,” Mr Breen concluded.
Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, a native of Dublin, is a graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology; Trinity College, Dublin, and the University of Ulster, where he was awarded a doctorate in management.
Prior to his appointment in AIT, Professor Ó Catháin was director of the Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College, and was previously employed with the Schiller University in Strasburg as residential and finance director. A Fellow of the Irish Hotel and Catering Institute (IHCI ) and of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA ), he is a founder member of Hospitality Ireland.
Professor Ó Catháin has held a number of leadership roles with the European Hotel and Tourism Schools Association (president 1994-1997 and vice-president 1997-2000 ); is a former chairman of the Council of Directors of the Institutes of Technology and is currently a director of the International Education Board for Ireland (IEBI ). In addition, he is a convener for Líonra, the network of higher education institutions in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW ) region of Ireland.
Committed to the value of regional development, Professor Ó Catháin has championed the commercial, industrial, social and cultural development of the Midlands. He is president of the Midlands Gateway Chamber for the towns of Athlone, Tullamore, and Mullingar. As chair and co-patron of the Commission for Justice and Social Affairs in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, he has guided initiatives on interculturalism and Fair Trade. Professor Ó Catháin is married to Sandra. They have four children.
The appointment of president was made following an extensive national and international search, which was conducted with professional assistance.
